James j



(No Model.)

J. J. TURNER.

DEVICE FOR AGTUATING SIGNALS, SWITCHES, &c. No. 374,916. Patented Dec. 13, 1887.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR & W n

N. PETERS, Pnmunm m hm. Washington, 0, c4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. TURNER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'IO HIMSELF AND JOHN F. MILLER,

OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR ACTUATING SIGNALS, SWITCHES, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,916, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed March 14, 1887. Serial No. 230,929. (No modclJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. TURNER, of Richmond, county of Wayne, State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Actuating Signals, Switches, and Switch-Locks, of which the following is a true and exact description, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved device for causing a single lever to actuate either of two or more signals, switchlocks, or switches; and it consists, generally speaking, of links situated in the actuatingconnections to the various elements of the route governed from any switch actuating point, said links being provided with changeable fulcrums and connections to and from them, substantially asis hereinafter described.

Reference being now had to the drawings,

which illustrate my invention in what I have found an efficient form and connection, Figure 1 represents my improved links as connected with a double switch-lock and with signals governing the two routes connected by the switch, in connection also with a switchactuating connection. Fig. 2 is a side View of my improved link constructed so as to operate either of two connections, as it is connected with one or the other of its two fulcrnms. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of my fulcrum-blocks. Fig. 4 is the link or bar to which and from which the connections are made. Fig. 5 is a side view of my device arranged to actuate a single connection in either direction, as it is connected with one or the other of its two fnlcrums; and Fig. 6 is a view of the link or bar as used in this arrangement.

A is a lever connected, as shown, to the switch by means of the connection B and to the fulcrum-bolt of my improved link device by a connection, 13. As shown, it is in connection with the bolt 0 of the link, which actuates the double switch-lock J through its connecting-line D.

A is a lever connected with the link 0 of the device, whose fulcrum is changed by lever A.

A is a lever actuating connecting-line B,

which actuates the link 0 of the device shown in Fig. 2, and which link is connected with the signal-lines H and H.

J is a double switch-lock; N, a switch; M

and M, signals governing two routes connected by switch N. C, Fig. 2, is a frame or brace connecting two slotted segments, 0 and 0 each of which is curved around a center in the slot of the other and at the point where the fulcrum of the movable link rests when secured in the slot, as hereinafter described.

0 is a link or bar having forks C (liwhich extend over the segments O G and are perforated for the reception of a pivot, as shown.

C is the point where the actuating-conneo tion is attached, as shown in Fig. 2. It is midway between the pivot-blocks in the ends 0* G 0 is a bolt which engages in the holes 0* and G in the inner endsof segments C" 0 and it is so proportioned that when shot fully home in one hole its other end just clears the slot of the other segment.

E is a curved guide-block carrying a pivotpin, F, which passes through the holes in the ends (1* and O of rod G said block having also a bolt-hole, G, which registers with the boltholes C or C when the block is moved to the inner end of the segments GC", and into which the end of the bolt 0 easily passes.

H H are signal-connections secured at or near the pivots F F to the ends of the link 0 The normal position of the link 0 is as shown in full lines on Fig. 2, the signals controlled by the lines H H being then both at danger. If, now, itis desired to move signal- ,connection H, the bolt 0 is moved toward segment 0, and passes through the holes (Pin the segment and G in block E, thus locking the block and its attached pivot in place in the slot 0. If, now, the line B be actuated, the link 0", connected with it at (1,will swing on the fixed pivot F, the unlocked block E, secured at C sliding in the slot 0 which is a circle about the fixed pivot. As will at once be seen, the connection H remains unmoved by the motion of the link while the connection attached to the free end 0 draws the signal M to safety. The other signal, M, is actuated by engaging the bolt 0 in the block attached to the end 0 of the link.

It is important that the lock O shonld be so arranged as to but slightly clear one block E when fully engaged with the other by thus arranging the bolt. Both pivot carrying blocks E are locked until the connection moving the bolt has forced it fully home in one socket or the other. 4

Referring, now, to Figs. 5 and 6, in which parts corresponding to those shown in Figs. 2, 3, and i are similarly lettered, except that small letters are used instead of capitals, it will be noticed that the bar or link 0 is continued beyond one of its pivotal points, formlng an extension or arm. Atapoint, 0 in the end of this arm a connecting-line, D, is attached, and the point cflwhere the connection actuating the link 0 is attached to it, is situated so that the throw of point a will be equal in each direction from its normal position, which is shown in full lines, while its two throws are shown in dotted lines. This form of link is particularly useful where a double switch-lock-such as J-is to be actuated, and also to operate a th rec-throw switch or similar device.

In Fig. l I have shown one mode of using my devices, which illustrates their application to railway use. The lever A, throwing the switch N by means of connection 13, also by means of connection B, actuates the bolt 0 in frame c,and thus changes the fulcrum-point of the bar or link a each time the switch is moved. The lever A, therefore, which, by means of connection B, actuates the link 0 throws its point 0 alternately in different directions, and thus, by means of connection D and double bell-crank J, forces first the pivot K in, then, after its withdrawal, the bolt K. By connecting to the end of lever J a further line of connection and making it operate the bolt 0 in frame 0 the fulcrum-point of the rod or link 0 is changed at each full movement of the switch-lock, so that when either route governed bythc switch is set and locked,and only then, the appropriate signal, M or M,will be moved to safety by the action of lever A through connection B The mechanical details shown in my drawings are given because I believe they are well adapted for practical use; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to this particular construction, as any guides O 0 rigidly held and properly curved, may be made to serve as bearings for the pivots F, which may be secured to a sleeve or any other device for holding them on the guides and providing a bolt-hole for the bolt 0*. Of course the link 0 may be changed in shape and construction, all that is necessary being that it should be securely attached to the pivots, so as to be held by the one which is fixed the fact that the change from one fulcrum to the other is caused by a very slight movement of the bolt and requires very little power, while the change is positive and the fulcrums are always in the position planned for them. Instead of a straight sliding boltsuch as C*- any equivalent locking device may be used which will cause bolts or latches to enter the registered detents in the guides and pivotblocks, alternately locking either pivot at pleasure, the merit of the lock shown being its great simplicity.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a device for actuating switches, signals, switclrlocks, and similar uses, a swinging link attached at two points to pivots secured and moving respectively on guides rigidly fixed in relation to each other and curved on the arcs of circles centered in corresponding points in the said guides, in combination with a bolt sliding in bearings attached to the guides and adapted to enter bolt-holes in the guides and pivot-blocks, and secure first one and then the other pivot alternately, all sub stantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a device for actuating the movable elements of a railway switch and signal system, the combination of the swinging link at tached at two points to pivots, two guides fixed relative to each other and each curved on the are of a circle centered at apoint in the other, said points corresponding to each other, pivot guiding -lolocks having bolt-holes in them adapted to register with holes in the guides when in normal position, a bolt having its hearings in or near the guides, and adapted to enter the bolt-holes in blocks and guides, said bolt being proportioned so that it does not release one pivot-block until substantially home in the other, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a device for actuating the movable ele ments in a railway switch and signal system, a frame or base-plate, 0, having guides secured to and forming a rigid part of the same, said guides being each curved on the arc of a circle centered in the other, in combination with pivot-sustaining blocks moving on each guide and having detents registering with detents in the guides when in normal position, a swinging link attached to each guide, and a locking device adapted to alternately engage the registered detents in the guides and blocks, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4 In combination with a frame having guides secured to it, curved substantially as described, pivot-holding blocks moving on each guide, a link secured to both pivots, a bolt adapted to lock the pivot-blocks alternately, an actuating-connection secured to the link between the pivots, and a connection for moving the bolt, substantially as and for the purpose specified.-

5. The combination of the slotted guides G 0, having boltfholes C 0 the sliding blocks E. having pivots F and bolt-holes G, the link 0 the bolt 0 and actuatingconnections to and from said link, all substantially as shown 5 and described.

6. In combination with a switch, switchlock, and signals, as shown, the frame and guides c c 0 having a link, 0 with fulcrumlock actuated by the switch-lever, said link 10 being connected with and actuating the switchlock, the frame and guides C 0 0 having a link, 0 with fulcrum-lock actuated by the switch-lock connection, and having connections H H, leading to each of the signals, all substantially as and for the purpose specified. 15

JAMES J. TURNER.

Witnesses:

J. H. SHWARTZ, T. H. HAZELRIGG. 

